PORTLAND (WGME)— Portland overdose prevention workers have speculated that the recent spike in overdoses in the region may be caused by the pandemic. More specifically due to the isolation many have faced at their most vulnerable time.

Portland Substance Use Prevention Program Coordinator, Zoe Brokos states: “A huge piece is that loss of connection, and when you don’t have that, all of those other things that you need become so much harder as well.”

Portland Police department has already responded to over 86 overdose calls since May 1, some of which being fatal.

However, certain recovery centers have also reported a noticeable uptick in new patients. Nate Cermalj of Liberty Bay Recovery comments that “…this pandemic has cause a lot of bad, but it’s also caused an opportunity to get well.”

The city of Portland is continuing its needle exchange program, as well as moving its naloxone training online. However, many community leaders feel that there is still much more to be done to improve the situation or at least available services.

But they say their work won’t matter if people don’t pick up the phone.